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ESPN staff
After 16 seasons of suiting up for the Chargers, quarterback Philip Rivers threw passes on Thursday in Indianapolis Colts gear — just one of many jolting new-team images from the 2020 NFL training camp. Rookies around the league tried on their new NFL uniforms, and at least one Buccaneers player is still in awe that he’s now teamed up with Tom Brady.
Here’s what you need to know from camps across the league:
Jump to the best of the day:
Photos | Videos | Quotes
Top news of the day
Bills rookies sent home after positive coronavirus tests
The Buffalo Bills sent their rookies home from the team’s facility Thursday as a response to five positive coronavirus tests this week, the team told ESPN in a statement. A league source told ESPN two players, including one rookie, tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, and the team made the decision to conduct the day’s meetings virtually.
Titans GM talks to Beasley, says LB will report ‘in the near future’
Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson released a statement on Thursday saying that outside linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. will be reporting to training camp soon. Beasley missed the first two days of camp and did not contact the team. The Titans placed Beasley on the reserve/did not report list on Tuesday.
Brate, recovered from the coronavirus, says workouts were “calculated risk”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate, who was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus this offseason and has since recovered, called attending Tom Brady’s organized workouts a “calculated risk” and believes it won’t be much different than electing to play this season.
More:
What our NFL Nation reporters heard today
Rookie Jalen Hurts spent part of his offseason in Houston working out with fellow dual-threat quarterback Deshaun Watson. Hurts’ communication with Carson Wentz was limited given the lack of a traditional spring schedule, he said, but he is eager to link up with him now that facilities are opening back up. “It was great to sit in the [virtual] meetings and just hear him talk, see how he sees the game,” Hurts said of Wentz. “I just want to continue to learn and listen to those things and just soak it all in.” — Tim McManus
Rookie cornerback Trevon Diggs did not have an offseason program to prepare for Dallas Cowboys‘ training camp, but he did have NFL experience help him in Miami, working out with his brother, Stefon, the Buffalo Bills receiver. The younger Diggs said he won most of the one-on-one battles. “When I was in high school, we trained together every day, so it felt good to get back to training with him,” Trevon said. “He knows what it takes to get there. I just followed his lead and competed with him every day.” — Todd Archer
The Carolina Panthers added another $1.5 million in dead money to their already league-leading $41.2 million total by releasing kicker Graham Gano. But it was an expected move, with Gano scheduled to count for $4,337,500 against the 2020 salary cap and more than $5.2 million against the 2021 cap. Carolina cleared $2.8 million in cap space by moving on. Gano’s replacement, Joey Slye, is scheduled to count $675,000 against this year’s cap, so the investment at that position is minimal. Don’t be surprised if Carolina brings in another kicker to push Slye. But moving on from Gano, who spent last season on IR, needed to happen with so many needs at other positions. — David Newton
Best photos
Packers rookies are seeing their lockers – with plexiglass partitions – for the first time (via @OfficialVern_ and @ajdillon7) pic.twitter.com/FEfjbWOs9t
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) July 30, 2020
heck yeah pic.twitter.com/rn6aNk0YGL
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) July 30, 2020
Rookie arrival. #PackersCamp pic.twitter.com/e0KVOvoDQD
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) July 30, 2020
1️⃣7️⃣ ➕ 7️⃣ pic.twitter.com/Ax4UfiTiM1
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) July 30, 2020
😎 F R E S H 😎
📸 » https://t.co/KfrdJgDtqb pic.twitter.com/C0m4Q6Z3qL
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) July 30, 2020
Out here grinding 💪
📸: https://t.co/mNQ7MeRi5r pic.twitter.com/mFNxVhwOse
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 30, 2020
Best videos
Legend has it that football is still spinning.@jalenreagor | @JalenHurts pic.twitter.com/8aBZXaC290
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) July 30, 2020
We’ve missed having these guys around 😌 pic.twitter.com/AAwqE2kwtg
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 30, 2020
𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠 at the rookies in action 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ti73ufDgIA
— New York Giants (@Giants) July 30, 2020
Back to work with one goal in mind. pic.twitter.com/mZmiYKxZvW
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) July 30, 2020
.@realgrantdelpit and the rookies putting in work 💪 pic.twitter.com/vOpLctn0iU
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 30, 2020
Pro Bowl season?
Nah. @GradyJarrett wants even MORE. pic.twitter.com/rUO6b25Aov
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 30, 2020
Full speed ahead. pic.twitter.com/YLtmzIn6ZE
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) July 30, 2020
Quotes of the day
“It’s gotta be Super Bowl or bust, in all honesty. That’s it. There’s not really anything past that. It’s Super Bowl or bust. If we don’t get to the big dance, it’s a failure of a season. That’s it.”
Terron Armstead, Saints OT, on New Orleans’ 2020 aspirations
“The first time he texted me, I had to get double confirmation from other people that it was actually Brady. He said, ‘Hey this is Tom. Give me a FaceTime when you can.’ So I had to reach out to Chris [Godwin] and Mike [Evans] and be like, ‘Hey. Is this Tom?’ Cause I didn’t want to be calling some random dude thinking it was Tom Brady.”
Cameron Brate, Buccaneers TE, on teaming up with Tom Brady
“I love him. He’s a great leader, a great team guy — somebody that I can lean on for anything.”
Henry Ruggs III, Raiders WR, on playing with Derek Carr